Is Vaping Safe?
"Vapor" sounds completely safe, but vaping doesn't use water vapor: It uses vape juice, also called e-juice or e-liquid, which is a mixture of chemicals suspended in vegetable glycerin and propylene glycol. One of those chemicals is usually nicotine, the same stuff that makes cigarettes addictive. Vape juice will vary in the concentration of nicotine it contains, and these solutions also include other chemicals that users inhale into their lungs.
- Chemicals found in e-juice include acrolein, acrylamide, acrylonitrile, benzene, and ethylene oxide.
- Toxic metals found in e-juice include chromium, lead, manganese, nickel, and zinc.
- Flavoring agents used in vape juice can cause lung and DNA damage.
Specific Dangers for Young People
Some sources estimate that as many as five percent of middle-school students and up to 16 percent of high-school students have used electronic cigarettes recently, and those numbers keep growing. However, vaping isn't without its risks, particularly for young people whose bodies are still developing.
- Nicotine has been found to be harmful for the adolescent brain, causing learning and behavioral problems.
- Kids who use e-cigarettes have a higher rate of chronic bronchitis and asthma.
- E-liquids can poison children and adults if they are swallowed or touch the skin.
Recommendations for Users
Anyone who has been using electronic cigarettes may struggle with an addiction to nicotine. If this has already happened to you, you may need to get help from a medical professional or a treatment center that specializes in nicotine addiction. If you accidentally swallow e-liquid, call your local poison control center for help (800-222-1222).
- Stay away from electronic cigarettes if you've never used them before.
- If you vape and want to stop but can't, talk to your doctor about ways to break your addiction.
This complete guide and more information can be found at: https://www.playgroundequipment.com/protect-our-playgrounds-from-vaping-e-cigarettes/
Parent and Guardian Resource Guide:
Vaping: What You Need to Know And How to Talk With Your Kids
West Springfield Tobacco Community Fact Sheet(PDF, 177KB)
This community fact she was published by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Tobacco Cessation and Prevention Program. It provides specific information on tobacco usage in our community, local tobacco regulations, health effects, and our community partnership contact.
Link
In July 2018, The Massachusetts Department of Public Health launched its first statewide public information campaign to educate parents of middle and high school-aged children about the dangers of vape pens and e-cigarettes. The campaign, The New Look of Nicotine Addiction, seeks to spread the word that these high-tech products are harmful, that they contain nicotine which can damage a teenager’s developing brain and lead to addiction.
In addition to the following informational publications, more information can be found on www.getoutraged.org!
For more information on how to address vaping with your child, click here!